Ok fellow Skaters. I thought I'd ask this today. As I don't think we've ever talked about this. But how close have you become,and are you to other Skaters at your Rink? I myself can only say that I have become REALLY close to other Skaters at my Rink. As matter-a-fatically (LOL, I hope I can use that in this contex)..I clicked the very first day I went to a Public Skate. Enough that I even can feel the trust in them. What about all of you?

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FSWer

Ever since I got past elementary school, my friend-making skills have disappeared. No, wait, ever since the incident in sixth grade. So, no, I am not close to the four girls in my skating lesson that are all my age and are all friends with each other. My anti-socialism is so obvious, my mom suggested inviting them to my birthday thing. Since I am most likely skating with them for the next five years, I'd rather not have a repeat of sixth grade.

I have, however, clicked with most of the adults that regularly skate in public skate. Like Ray, the old guy that has been forever trying to get a one foot spin, and two ladies whose names I don't know. And the hockey guy who has a figure skating daughter.

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Right Brain: In the distant future, I will land all of the doubles.
Left Brain: HAHAHAHAHA
Left Brain: You can't even do a backspin.
Right Brain: ...

figurekb on YouTube.

some of my best friends are my figure skating friends.

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Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

I'm pretty good friends with a handful of the people I skate with regularly, but for the most part, the majority of the skaters come and go and change so often that I rarely get to know even their names.

Hey, you resemble that remark for me.

I skated in many rinks on Long Island and had friends at all of them. I'm in NC now and have made new friends. It's not that hard. I find that the people who I become friendly with are the ones who want to share skating experiences as opposed those who are constantly saying, "watch my this," or, "how do you like my that?" Some skaters, I find, are very self absorbed. Those that are not - well they are open to friendships.

You BOTH resemble that remark for me!

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I've got mad salchow disease!

When I was primarily skating on public ice in the past, I talked more to people on ice. Now I skate only on freestyle, people do mean business there. Morning session and work afterward, time is hard to manage.

What happened? Or would you rather not tell?

Going straight from fifth grade into a high/middle school and also going from uniform to free-choice clothing- well- I didn't fare too well. Out of my element and didn't know how to avoid social suicide.
However, many of the high-schoolers liked me, like a little sister. At the rink it seems like the younger kids (around 10) will come up and talk to me, but of course they are little kids and will talk to anybody.

I am always saying that to my mother
I don't like the skaters who say to the instructor they can do something then they go off and do a really crappy example. If I can do something, but badly, I will tell the instructor when they ask.

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Right Brain: In the distant future, I will land all of the doubles.
Left Brain: HAHAHAHAHA
Left Brain: You can't even do a backspin.
Right Brain: ...

figurekb on YouTube.

I see

Well, we still wake up with each other after some 30+ years

OK, we actually met at church and she always wanted to learn to ice skate - we're still skating together - and still married!

More generally we did have some good times with several other adult skaters at our old rink until it closed some years ago. Travel to alternatives was too much for many people. We've been two of the very few other adults on patch at our alternative rink for many years - and patch means practice not socialising. A replacement rink eventually opened, but we've got beyond the group lessons so don't really have that connection with other adult skaters who are still learning and haven't really got to the dance stage yet. Public sessions are not ideal for skating dance - even if it is allowed. Some of the old skating group did make a temporary return when the new rink opened, but absence from ice for such a long period didn't give them the confidence to carry on.

Acquaintances at other rinks - but we're all getting older.

Sometimes it feels a little lonely at my rink, being that i'm the only adult skater. The kids talk to me, but the parents have this groupie thing going, and i'd just rather stay out of it.

Moving in about 2 weeks, looking FWD to being around other adult skaters. My club though has been about 1 hours away, and i've made superduper friends there. We adults really root for each other!

Aw!!! that is sweet. May I add that I also met my husband at the rink!!!

I've made some amazing friends through figure skating. I've also made the acquaintance of a number of people whom I never would have met in my life on dry land. Sadly, skating has also brought me into close quarters with a very few people who, for non-skating reasons, I dislike.